Multishuttle weft replenishing loom



Feb. 23, 1943. v v. H. JENNINGS I MULTISHUTTLE WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Jan. 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 56 87. mun-E3 83 53 L 80 52' &m D 53 E1 M V I 53 -ea 5 as 80 8| 56 VICTOR H JENNINGS ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1943. v. H. JENNINGS MULTISHUTTLB WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM s Sheets-Sheet s Filed Jan. 28, 1942 F1 f v I NVE N-rora \HcTOR H.3'ENNING-5 @LM/A ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1943 MULTISHUTTLE REPLENISHING LOOM Victor H. Jennings, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 28, 1942, Serial No. 428,458

18 Claims. (01.

,This invention relates to improvements in multi-shuttle Weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to adapt such a loom for the replenishment of a comparatively small number of shuttles from a larger number of reserve stacks of bobbins.

In the weaving of certain fabrics it is desirable to effect mixing of the filling by the use of two shuttles which have alternate periods of activity. One shuttle may be active for a pair of picks and the second shuttle active for the next pair, in which case the complete shuttle sequence requires four picks of the loom. In such looms it is desirable to replenish each shuttle from a plurality of stacks of reserve bobbins for the purpose of effecting mixing of the weft and also to permit the use of multi-stack magazines with two shuttles.

According to the form of my invention illustrated hereinafter I employ a magazine having four stacks of reserve bobbins all provided with weft of the same general kind but wherein slight variations as to color or size may exist among the bobbins of the several stacks, and use two shuttles each of which is to be replenished from two stacks. It is an important object of my present invention to permit the accomplishment of this result by operating the magazine selector in such a manner that bobbins for transfer will be drawn from the several stacks in a more or less regular manner.

The usual multi-color weft replenishing magazine employs a plurality of vertical slides, one for each stack of bobbins, and a selector which can register with the several slides one at a time. When used for customary 4 x 1 weaving each stack will have its own distinctive type of reserve bobbin and there will be four shuttles having wefts' corresponding to the stacks. A connection from the box motion or some part in time with it causes the selector to register with the stack corresponding to the active shuttle. In the present instance the bobbins are all of the same general kind and I construct and operate the selector so that it will replenish one shuttle from the front pair of stacks and the other shuttle from the rear pair of stacks. Another object of my invention is to operate the selector in a sequence of movements so related to the cycle of shuttle movements that a replenishing operation initiated by an exhausted shuttle when the selector is in register with one stack of a pair can be completed when the selector is in register with the other stack of the pair.

. It is a further object of my present invention to provide a four-stack magazine to replenish two shuttles and construct the selector and vertical slides so that the loom can operate on an eight-pick cycle. As an example of such a cycle, the selector can be in register with the front littl -232) stack during the first pair of picks when one shuttle is active, in register with the third stack when the second shuttle is active, in register with the second stack when the first shuttle is again active, and in register with the fourth stack when the second shuttle is again active. I do not wish to be limited to this cycle, but in any variation of it the number of picks in the selector cycle will be a multiple of the number of picks in the shuttle cycle, or at least a multiple of two, so that the selector and shuttles may be kept in step with each other.

-With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described nd et forth- In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a Weft replenishing mechanism made and operated according to my present invention,

Fig. 2 is'an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the selector in its extreme forward position and the relation it maintains to the lifting lugs of the vertical slides.

Fig. 3 is adetailed front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow 3, and showing the relation of the lifting and depressing lugs of the slides relatively to the selector,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the depressing lugs of the slides,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a pick sequence of shuttles,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the successive positions which the selector assumes with respect to the delivery slides for the several stacks, f

Fig. -7 is a detail front elevation of a part of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow 7, and

Figs. 8 and 9 show diagrammatically the control mechanism for the shuttle boxes and selector, respectively.

My invention relates to a well-known type of multi-color weft replenishing loom and I set forth herein only such parts of the mechanism as are involved in the changes which I make to adapt the loom for operation according to my invention. The loom frame In, breast beam ll, lay l2, shuttle box [3, lay connector l4 and magazine M, except as mentioned hereinafter, are all of useful construction. The lay moves forwardly or to the right in Fig. 1 every beat of the loom and cooperates with two shuttles A and B both carrying the same kind of Weft. As indicated in Fig. 5 the left end of the loom is provided with upper and lower shuttle boxes 20 and 2|, respectively, which are alternately in active position with respect to the race plate 22 of the lay box.- The boxes will be in the down position for pick I to permit picking of shuttle A from box 29 .to box I3. After arrival of shuttle A in box l3 the lay beats up and on the backward stroke shuttle A is picked to the left during pick II while the boxes are still down. The boxes then rise on pick III to permit shuttle B to be picked into box which this second shuttle is picked back to box 2| during pick IV while the left-hand boxes are up. The right-hand part of Fig. 5 is a repetition of the left hand part so far as the shuttle and shuttle box movements are concerned, the

IS, after for sliding motion in a horizontal direction under the action of a positioning lever 60 pivoted as at BI and. having engagement with a collar -62 secured to shaft 40. A rearwardly extending arm 64 on lever 60 is connected to a chain or positions for picks V, VI, VII and VIII following i as indicated in Fig. 5 to complete a sequence of eight picks. The shifting of the boxes 29 and 2| may be accomplished in any approved manner h by mechanism to be referred to hereinafter.

From Fig. 5 it will be understood that shuttle A is in shuttle box |3 at the end of the first and fifth picks and the shuttle B is in box 3 at the end of the third and seventh picks, each shuttle returning to box 3 at four-pick intervals. Box I3 is empty on the even numbered picks, or when both shuttles are at the left and the boxes 29 and 2| shift.

The magazine M comprises an inside plate on which are mounted for-vertical reciprocation four slides 24, 25, 25 and 21, respectively, corresponding to stacks 39, 3|, 32 and 33, re-

spectively, of reserve bobbins all of the same general kind. Each vertical slide cooperates with a gate or cradle designated generally at 3,5 which is normally empty when its slide is down. When the slide rises the cradle is rocked to receive a bobbin preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom, and when the slide is depressed or returned to normal low position the cradle is rocked in the opposite direction to deliver its bobbin to a transfer position designated at T, Fig. 1.

A weft detector D is mounted in front of the box l3 and detects the condition of weft on the forward beat of the lay whenever a shuttle occupies box 3. By means of well-known mechanism indication of weft exhaustion by the detector D. rocks the selector 49 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 when the lay is on front center and anempty shuttle is in box I3. When the shuttlehas been picked to the opposite side of the loom and the boxes 29v and 2| have shifted the color slide is given a clockwise angular movement as viewed in Fig. '7. These rockings of the color slide or selector may be effected by means of a vertical rod 42 actuated by an appropriate cam and connected at its upper end to a block 43. on which is pivoted an actuator lever 44 controlled by a pin 45 the position of which is determined by the detector D when rod 42 descends.

Each vertical cradle actuating slide is provided with a dog 46 which cooperates with a top shaft or setting mechanism 41 to set a transfer latch 48 in transfer position for engagement with a lay bunter 49 whenever shaft 41 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7. The shaft 41 remains at rest as the vertical slides rise, being rocked only by down motion'of any of the slides. Return motion of shaft 4? to normal position is effected by a resetter 50 mounted for engagement with the lay and pivoted as at 5| to a carrier 52 connected by'link 53 to the shaft 41. Whenever the latter rocks in a direction to set the magazine for transfer as a result of down motion of a vertical slide the resetter 50 is moved rearwardly. Subsequentforward molink 65 which exerts a downward pull for the purpose of moving the selector 40 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, while a spring 66 acts in usual manner to rock lever 60 in a clockwise direction for the purpose of moving the selector to the right. The lever 60 and selector are capable of four different positions which are determined by a mechanism to be mentioned and operating in timed relation with the boxes 29 and 2|.

The matter thus far described may be of common construction except as hereinafter noted, and reference may be had to Patent No. 1,030,748 for a further understanding of the structure and operation thereof.

In carrying my invention into effect Imodif y' the selector and vertical slides as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The selector rod 40 is provided with a casting having projecting front and back arms 8| and 82, respectively, provided with elongated fingers 83 and 84, respectively, which are parallel to the rod 49. The vertical slides 24, 25, 26 and 21 are provided respectively with upper lifting lugs 85, 85 and 81 and 88, respectively, and with lower depressing lugs '90, 9|, 92 and 93, respectively. The lugs and fingers 93 and 84 are so proportioned that when the selector is in any one of its four controlling stations only one of the upper lugs can be engaged by the selector to raise its slide. When the selector is in the extreme front position or the position next therebehind, as indicated at K and L in Fig. 6, the finger 83 lies over and can therefore actuate either of the bottom lugs or 9|. When the selector is in itsthird and fourth positions finger 84 can actuate either of the bottom lugs 92 or 93 as indicated at M and N, Fig. 6. In Figs. 5 and 6 the reference characters K, L, M and N represent correspondingpairs of picks in the eight-pick sequence of movements of the selector in the order in which they occur.

In the operation of myinvention, and assuming'that the parts will follow the sequence sugested in Figs. 5 and 6, the shuttle boxes are down for picks I and II corresponding to pair K and finger 83 will be in register with lug 85 and all of the other upper lugs will be out of register with the fingers. Shuttle A is picked from the left to the righthand end of the loom and will be detected at the front center position of the lay'between picks I and II. If exhausted, slide 24 will be raised by down motion of rod 42 and lifting of finger 83. In the type of loom to which my invention applies replenishment is not immediately followed by exhaustion ofweft-indioation but occurs on a later pick when the empty shuttle returns to the replenishing end of the loom. 'The indicating shuttle; after returning to the left end of theloom will be movedto inactive position and shuttle B will become active for picks III and IV, or a pair L of Figs. Sand 6. The selector has a corresponding'rearwardmovement so that the finger84ijis m register with-upper lug 81- andthe downward motion of finger 84 which occurs as soon as the box shift is com-- shuttle B is active.

cated in Fig. 8 to the box lifterrod19 forthe.

pleted will be'idle, sinceit is out of register with lugs .99 and 9|. Assuming that sufllcient weft is present in shuttle B .no indication of weft .exhaustion will be given. and. therefore slide" 26. will remain in normal down position and shuttle B will return to the left end of the loom to be moved to lowered inactive position.

wiWhen the shuttle A returns to activity during picks V and V1 for the pair indicated at M in Figs..5 and 6, the selector will be. moved-for- Wardlyone station so that finger 83, when moving downwardly immediately upon completionkof the downward box shift, will depress thepreviously elevated lug 99 and a bobbin from the front cradle will be released foritran'sfer. and will be. inserted into. shuttle A between picks V and Replenished shuttle A then returns t the left end of the loom and shuttle B is again active. and this time the selector moves to its re'armo'st position, corresponding to picks VII and VIII representing the pair N in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the foregoing description of operation-I have assumed a shuttle A will indicate weft exhaustion during the pair KY and will be replenished during the pair M of picks, but it is to be understood that shuttle A could have given indi cation of weft during pair M of picks and be replenished at the beginning of the succeeding eight-pick sequence, and it is also to be understood that shuttle B could have given indication of weft exhaustion in pair of picks L and would have been replenished in pair of picks N. It will thus be seen that the selector controls the front pair of bobbin stacks 30 and 3| during the odd 1 pairs of picks K or M when shuttle A is active and controls the rear pair of stacks 32 and 33 during the even number of pairs L and N when I wish it to be understood that the particular sequence set forth herein is merely forillustrative purposes and it is within the spirit of my invention to assign any two stacks of bobbins to one shuttle and the other two stacks to the second shuttle and control the successive positions of the selector in a manner similar to that already described, causing the selector to register with either of'two stacks when one shuttle is active and with either of two other stacks when I the other shuttle is active.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate diagrammatic-ally mechanisms for controlling the shuttle boxes and the magazine selector respectively. These figures illustrate the well-known Knowles head as a mechanism for effecting these controls, but I do not wish the shuttle box and selector control means to be limited necessarily to the disclosure of Figs. 8 and 9. I

' In Fig. 8 the chain 68 which determines the sequence of movements of the shuttle boxes comprises successive chain bars which provide right and left hand rows of indications. Since the shuttle boxes have only two positions the right hand row will be made up entirely of sinkers, but the left hand row is made of alternate pairs of sinkers 69 and intervening pairs of rolls (6. The chain moves over a cylinder H which has an angular movement every pick of the loom to present a new bar of the chain under the vibrator lever 12 on which is mounted a vibrator gear '13. The latter is actuated by upper and lower mutilatedcylinders l4 and 15, respectively, and is attached by a connector 16"to a lever-11; the lower-end .of which: has attached thereto a chain or other flexible connector 18 extendingas'in'di shuttle boxes. already described. The chain 68- isassumed' tomo've in thedirection. of arrow a to controlling" position under lever Hand the, cylinders '14 and 15..cooper'ate with the vibrator gear 13 in the usual well-knownflmanner to ef-. fect shiftings of. the shuttle boxes in response to the control exercised by the chain 68.

In Fig.9 the mechanism for controlling the magazine selector is diagrammatically set forth and comprises a chain. I having right and'left hand rows rlfll andlll2 .of sinkers I03 and rolls I04. The sinkers and rolls are arranged to give four different kinds of indications and move in the direction of arrow 1) around a cylinder I05 located under vibrator levers I06 and H11. These vibrator levers have mounted thereon vibrator gears -l 08 located between upper and lower mutilated cylinders 169 and H9, respectively. Right and left levers III and H2, respectively, are attached by connectors H3 and M4 to the vibrator gears I98 and are given four different combinations of positions. A sheave I 15 on the bottom of lever H2 has trained therearound the previously described. chain 65. As indicated in Fig. 9 the chain I60 and the parts which it controls are not connected to shuttle boxes as usual but are used solely for the'purpose of givinglever 69 and the selector 49 the four positions already described. I

It is to be understood that the pattern chains 68 and I90 move together and give simultaneous indication, pick after pick, to the parts which they control. Thus, the selector is kept in timed relation with the shuttle boxes and the previously described shiftings of the selector with respect to the shuttle sequence is'preserved;

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means for adapting a multistack magazine for use with two shuttles wherein each shuttle can be replenished by bobbins drawn from more than one stack. It will also be seen that whenever a shuttle is in need of replenishment and gives indication of exhaus- 1 will be depressed despite the fact that the color slide will be in different position. This is due to the overlapping relationship between the fingers 83 and 84 with respect to the bottom lugs 90, 9|, 92 and 93. The bobbins will generally be wound with substantially the same length of weft, and although there is likely to be some slight variation, the general operation of my invention will cause the bobbins to be drawn in an approximately uniform order as regards the various stacks. There will therefore be little danger that one stack will become empty and effect loom stoppage through the filling fork while there still remains any considerable number of bobbins in the remaining stacks. 4

In the foregoing description. it has been assumed that the weft of all the stacks and both shuttles is of the same general type, but I do not wish to thus be limited, since each shuttle has its own set of stacks and the shuttles can therefore carry diverse wefts. Furthermore, the shuttles need not necessarily follow each other at two pick intervals but may if desired remain for periods longer than two successive picks.

Having thus described my'invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope "of the invention and I do not'wish to be limited'to'the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a pair of shuttles which are alternately active, a weft replenishing 'mechanismhaving a group of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a releaser for each stack-movable to initiate bobbin release from the associated stack and'thereafter movable to complete bobbin release, a selector common to all the releasers, means to cause the selector to register with one of .the releasers of the stacks of one group when the corresponding shuttle is first active and with r the releaser of another stack of the same group when the same shuttle is again active. and cause the selector to register with the releaser of one of the stacks of the other group when the otherv shuttle is first active and register with the releaser of another stack of said other 'group' when the other shuttle is :againactive, means to cause the selector to have an operative initiatory bobbin releasing movement with respect to the releaser of any stack with which it registers to, initiate bobbin release upon exhaustion of weft in either shuttle when active and thereafter'cause said selector to have a bobbin releasing completing movement, and means on each releaser by which any releaser which is given an. initiating movement due to exhaustion of the corresponding shuttle when active receives a bobbin releasing completing movement from said selector when the corresponding shuttle is next active.

2. In a weft mixing weft replenishing loom operating with a pair of shuttles which are alternately active, a weft replenishing mechanism having a group of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable to initiate bobbin release, a selector common to all the releasers and capable of movement into registry therewith, means to move the selector from registry with a releaser of one group to registry with a releaser of the other group when there is a change in the active shuttle and cause the selector upon occurrence of another change in the active shuttle toregister with a releaser of the first group different from that with which it registered before leaving said first group, said means thereupon causing the selector to register with another releaser of said other group, and means to cause the selector to have an operative movement with respect to any releaser with which it is registered to initiate a bobbin release upon occurrence of weft exhaustion in the active shuttle.

3. In a weft mixing weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles which are alternately active, two pairs of stacks of reserve bobbins, one pair for each shuttle, areleaser for each stack to have an initiating movement in one direction preparatory to bobbin release and a return movement in the opposite direction .to complete bobbin release, a selector and actuator for the releasers having an actuating stroke in one direction whenever the active shuttle is depleted of weft to give the releaser aligned therewith an initiating movement and having an opposite stroke every second pick of the loom to effect return movement of a releaser previously given an initiating movement and aligned therewith, positioning means for the selector and vactuator to align the latter with the pair corresponding to the active shuttle and cause ;.said

selector to be aligned alternately with the 'releasers of anyone pair for successive periods of activity :of the co'rresponding shuttle, and operating means on said release. mechanisms and said selector andactuator to cause the latter to be aligned with all the, release mechanisms of the pair corresponding to the active shuttle when said selector has said opposite stroke.

4. In a weft replenishing loom operating with aipair of shuttles 'which follow each other 'ina four-pick cycle, in the firstpair of picks of which one shuttle is active andiin the second'pair of picks ofwhich the other shuttle is active, a weft replenishing mechanism having a group of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack, a selector common to all the stacks, means to give said selectoracycle of successive shifting movements, one shifting movement for each pair of picks, to cause said selector to be in registry with alternate groups on successive shifting movements thereof and cause said selectorto be in alternate registry with the stacks of anyone group on alternate shifting movements thereof, and means to cause the selector when in register with any sta-ckQto have a movement with respect to the corresponding releaser to initiate bobbin release when the shuttle corresponding to the group. containing the releaser with which the selector is in register is exhausted of weft.

5. In a weft replenishing loom operating-with two shuttles which are alternately active, ,ajpair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, .a selector operating in a two-pick cycle and capable of having a bobbin release initiating motion in one direction in the first part of each cycle and havinga bobbin release/completing motion in the opposite direction in the latter part of every cycle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable from normal position to bobbin release initiating position and then back to normal positionjto complete bobbin release, an element on each releaser located for actuation by a selector initiating motion when in register with said selector and the releaser is in normal position, a member on each releaser out of the path: of said completing motionof the selector whenin register with the latter and the releaser is in normallposition but moved into said path when the releaser moves to abnormal position-and the selector is in register therewith, positioning means to locate said selector in register with the members corresponding to the active-shuttle and locate said selector in alternate register with the elements of either group during successive. periods of activity .of the same shuttle, and-means to cause said selector to have an in' iating motion when the active shuttle is depleted of weft.

6. In a weft replenishing loom opcrating'with two shuttles which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a selector operating in a two-pickcycle and capable of having a bobbin release initiating motion .in one direction 'in the first part of each cycle and having a bobbin release completing motion inthe opposite direction in the latter part of every cycle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable from normal position to {bobbin release initiating position and then ack to normal po itionto complete bobbin release, an element on each releaser located foreaotnatlontby a selector initing motion when inrre ister with said selector and the releaser is in normal position-a member onxeach releaserout of thep thcf said completins motion of the selector when in nc isterwith the latter and the releaser is-in normal position said selector alternately with the elements of a given pair of stacks during successive locations of said selector in the corresponding zone, and means to cause said selector to have an initiating motion when the active shuttle is depleted of weft.

7. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a selector operating in a two-pick cycle and capable of having a bobbin release initiating motion in one direction in the first part of each cycle and having a bobbin release completing 'motion in the opposite direction in the latter part of every cycle, a bobbin releaser for each stack said selector in the corresponding zone, and means to cause said selector to have an initiating motion when the active shuttle is depleted of weft.

9. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a selector operating in a two-pick cycle and capable of having a bobbin release initiating motion in one direction in the first part of each cycle and having a bobbin release completing motion in v the opposite direction in the latter part of every movable from normal position to bobbin release' initiating position and then back to normal position to complete bobbin release, an element on each releaser located for actuation by a selector initiating motion when in register with said selector and the releaser is in normal position, a

member on each releaser out of the path of said completing motion of the selector when in register with the latter and the releaser is in normal position but moved into said path when the releaser moves to abnormal position and the selector is in register therewith, the element and member of each releaser being out of alignment with each other with respect to the direction of motion of the releaser, positioning means to locate said selector in register with the members said selector in alternate register with the elements'of either group during successive periods selector operating in a, two-pick cycle and capable .of having a bobbin release initiating motion in one direction in the first part of each cycle and having a bobbin release completing motion in the opposite direction in the latter part of every cycle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable from normal position to bobbin release initiating position and then back to normal position to complete bobbin release, an element on each releaser located for actuation by a selector initiating motion when in register with said selector and the releaser is in normal position, a member on each releaser out of the path of said completing motion of the selector when in register with the latter and the releaser is in normal position but moved into said path when the releaser moves to abnormal position and the selector is in register therewith, positioning means to locate said selector in two zones of action, one zone for each pair of stacks, said elements, members and selector being so related that said selector when in either zone registers with both members of the corresponding pair of stacks'but with only one element of the pair of stacks, said positioning means registering the selector alternately with the elements of a iven corresponding to the active shuttle and locate40 cycle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable from normal position to bobbin release initiating position and then back to normal position to complete bobbin release, an element on each releaser located for actuation by a selector initiating motion when in register with said se lector and the releaser is in normal position, a member on each releaser out of the path of said completing motion of the selector when in register with the latter and the releaser is innormal position but moved into said path when the releaser moves to abnormal position and the selector is in register therewith, the elements of either pair of stacks being more widely spaced than the corresponding members and the selector having-an actuator for each pair of stacks capable of registry with but one element at a time but registering with both members of 'a pair of stacks when registering with either element "of the pair, positioning means to locate said selector in register with the members corresponding to the active shuttle and locate said selector in alternate register with the elements of either'pair of stacks during successive periods of activity of the same shuttle, andmeans to cause said selector to have an initiating motion when the active shuttle is depleted of weft.

10. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a pair of shuttles operating in a four-pick cycle bobbin releaser for each stack capable of having an initial motion preparatory to bobbin release, a selector common to all the stacks, positioning means for the selector operating in an eight-pick cycle and effective to shift the selector at twopick intervals to cause saidsele ctor to register first with a given releaser of one pair of stacks pair of stacks during successive locations of for two picks when one shuttle is first active, then shift to registry for two picks with a given releaser of the other pair of stacks when the other shuttle is first active, then shift to regis- 'try for two picks with the other releaser of the first pair of stacks when the first shuttle is again active, and then register for two picks with the other releaser of the other pair of stacks when the other shuttle is next active, and means to cause the selector when in register with any releaser to have an operative movement with respect to the latter to initiate bobbin release when the corresponding shuttle is exhausted of weft.

11. In a weft replenishing loom operatingwith two shuttles which are alternately active 'for two successive picks each and requiring four picks for a complete shuttle sequence, a pair of reserve stacks of bobbins for each shuttle, avertically movable bobbin releaser for each stack, a selector common to the releasers, a lifting lug on each releaser above the selector, a depressing lug on each releaser below the selector, andoffset horizontally with respect to the corresponding lifting'lug toward the other depressing lugof the same pair of releasers, a selector having a" finger for each pair of releasers capable of registering with the corresponding lifting lugs one at a time only but registering with both depressing lugs of a pair of releasers when registering with either lifting lug thereof, positioning means for the selector to cause said fingers to be alternate- 1y registered with the depressing lugs of their respective pairs of releasers at two-pick intervals and cause either finger to register alternate- 1y with the lifting lugs of the same pair of' releasers during successive periods of activity of the'corresponding shuttle, and actuating means operative upon exhaustion of weft in either shuttle when active to cause the selector to raise a given lifting lug of the pair of releasers corresponding to the exhausted shuttle to initiate bobbin, release, said actuating, means thereafter causing said selector when registered with the other lifting; lug of the last named pair. when the exhausted shuttle is next active to depress the previously raised depressing lug to complete bobbin release.

12. A selector for a weft replenishing loom having two pairs of laterally spaced bobbin releasers each having a lifting element and a depressing member offset laterally: from the lifting element, said selector having a body to extend laterally with respect to the releasers, and two fingers so located along said' body that said fingers can register with but one lifting element at a time and each finger registers with bothdepressing members of the correspondingpair of releasers when registering with'one or the other of the lifting'elements of said pair, the other finger being out of register with the elements and members of the other pair of releasers.

13. A selector for a weft replenishing loom having two pairs of laterally spaced bobbin releasers each having a lifting element and a depressing member ofi'set laterally from the lifting element, said selector having a pair of fingers to be disposed laterally of said releasers, there being one finger for each pair of releasers, each finger capable of registering withbut one element at a time of the corresponding pair of releasers and when registering with either element being in register with both members of the pair, the other finger being out of register with the elements and members corresponding thereto.

14. Selector mechanism. for a weft replenishing loom including a set of pairs of bobbin releasers and a selector, said releasers each having a lifting element and a depressing member and said selector having engaging means for the elements and members, said engaging means capable of registering with but one element at a time but registering with the pair of members corresponding to the element with which it registers, said means being capable of registering with but one pair of members at a time.

15. In a reserve bobbin magazine having two groups of stacks of reserve bobbins, a bobbin releaser for each stack, each releaser having a lifting lug and a depressing lug, a selector slidable on the magazine laterally of the releasers and common to the latter and capable of having a primarylifting motionand a subsequent depressing motion, and actuating means on the selector for engagement with said lugs, said selector capableof assuming different laterally spaced positions,,one position for eachliftinglug, the lugs and actuating meansbeing so related that the means can register with but one lifting lug at a time but registers with all the depressing lugs of the group containing the lifting lug registered therewith, said means capable of registering with the depressing lugs of but one group at a time.

16. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a reciprocable bobbin releaser for each stack capable of effecting bobbin release upon a complete reciprocation thereof, a selector capable of having a movement in one direction and having regularly recurring movements in the opposite direction, positioning means to effect shifting of the selector with respect to the releasers and efiective to register said selector alternately with the releasers corresponding-to either shuttle for successive periods of activity of the shuttle and effective to'shift the selector from registry with a releaser of one pair of stacks to a releaser of the other pair of stacks whenever there is a change in the active shuttle, and means operative during activity of either shuttle to move the selector in said one direction to move the releaser aligned therewith in one direction during a period of activity of the corresponding shuttle when the latter isdepleted of weft to initiate bobbin release and-thereafter effective to move the selector in the opposite direction to complete a reciprocation ofthe previously moved releaser andvcomplete-bobbin release when the exhausted shuttle is-next active.

17. In a weft replenishing loom operatingwith two shuttles which are active for alternate periods, apair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack, a selector andactuator mechanism for said releasers, and each releaser when operated effective to advance a bobbin in the corresponding stack toward transfer position, means to register said mechanism alternately with the pairs of releasers for successive periods of activity of the two shuttles and register said mechanism alternately with the releasers of either pair for successiveperiods of activity of the corresponding shuttle, and means operating jointly with said register means and effective upon depletion of weft in either shuttle to cause said mechanism to operate whichever releaser registers therewith of the pair of releasers corresponding to the depleted shuttle.

18. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack, a selector for said releasers, means to cause the selector to register with one or the other of the releasers of the pair corresponding to whichever of the shuttles is active, and mechanism operative upon depletion of whichever shuttle is active to cause the selector to operate the releaser registered therewith in the pair of releasers corresponding to the depleted shuttle.

VICTOR I-I. JENNINGS. 

